As freshman Ephraim Blair stepped onto the main stage of Carnegie Hall, one of the most esteemed venues in America, he felt a mix of nervousness and pure excitement. He quickly got his nerves under control, sat down at his piano and began to play.
On Dec. 17, Ephraim performed at the Golden Classical Music awards. This competition is held every year at Carnegie Hall in New York City and requires an extensive application process that requires three video submissions to the organization..
On its website, the competition is described as a way “to discover artists of outstanding personality and provide awards which can help to launch international careers.” They take applications from around the world of every different instrument and many age groups and give them an opportunity to perform on a well known stage.
Ephraim was very surprised when he was chosen to participate because he had not submitted the application. His mother submitted the application without him knowing about the opportunity so as not to make him nervous.
“I was confused [when she told me]. I actually thought she was playing a prank on me,” Ephraim said. “After that initial reaction I thought it was pretty cool but my very first reaction was I thought it was a practical joke.”
Winsor has been teaching Blair since he was in second grade, but says he really started progressing faster during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I noticed amongst my studio that some kids did really well online and some did not,” Windsor said. “…He happened to be one of the students who has done very well online.”
Now, Ephraim learns with Winsor every week, usually online but sometimes in person at her studio in Virginia Beach. On days in which he does not meet with her he often practices for up to one hour every day.
After the pandemic Ephraim began performing at a senior home near his house in Virginia Beach. He performed monthly for two years and was given a presidential golden award which is an award the home gives out to people with outstanding service. In addition, people who observed him play at the senior home were very impressed with his skills.
“These three kind men came up to him,” Ephraim’s mother April Blair said. “I think it was November 2023 and they said he would perform at Carnegie Hall and one year later he did.”
Ephraim does not plan on continuing music as a career but does value it highly as one of his main hobbies. Ephraim finds something emotional and calming in his playing, something Winsor says elevates his music.
“He really puts a lot of passion into his playing,” Windsor said. “He’s very good at bringing dynamic changes out. And he does not seem to get rattled if he misses a note. To him, he sort of just kind of goes with the flow of what the melodic line is doing and pays more attention to that which ultimately is good.”
While Ephraim already completed the first part of the competition, being accepted to play at Carnegie Hall, a few musicians will be selected to play again later on in the year. These winners have not been announced yet but Ephraim hopes to be chosen. He said that he tried not to worry about this when he was on stage.
“As I’ve gotten older, I realize you just have to just play no one is there,” Ephraim said. “Don’t think just do it … because when you get into your head and just start talking to yourself and saying all these things about how you are in Carnegie hall.When you’re in front of all these bigger audiences that’s when you start making mistakes.”
